Overland Track Tasmania – an adventure

It may have been the weight of our packs, the mud, the roots, the long days or the extreme weather. Early on, the Overland Track and Tasmania’s wilderness always tested us, sometimes to the edge of our ability to cope. It can be an extreme experience.

Over time we have grown comfortable with the challenges. We have definitely not become blase nor do we set off under prepared. We just know what to expect and prepare mentally. We always have the correct gear, clothing and food for the trip.

Recently we came across Ally’s trip report of her Overland Track adventure. Reading it bought back a lot of memories and highlighted to us how challenging, stressful and exhausting the trip can be to a first timer.

We will just share a few of Allys quotes from her very entertaining article. You need to read her full trip report over here: The Overland Track – Ally International. Don’t forget to check out here full photo gallery over here.

Ally at Pelion Hut ready to head off for the day

The climb to Marion’s lookout:

All was good until I had to climb a rockface, with my pack on, and nothing to hold besides a chain held into the rock by metal poles. From there, things got nasty. It started snowing badly, and on a plateau like the one I was on, the high winds don’t make for easy going, and the fact that no trees were around didn’t help either.

Walking:

By that point I had forgotten what dry boots felt like. My right knee had begun to feel like it had been run over by a car. It’s still recovering as I write this. I had fallen a few times since day one, and my knees were littered with bruises.

More walking:

Walking with other people takes your mind off of the monotony of walking. But, it’s kind of hard to hear people when you have 2 layers of hoods on because the sky won’t stop pouring on your head. I fell twice that day, once in high, fast-flowing water on a rock and the other time on a very sleet-covered rock.

Clothing:

Putting on all attire that morning was miserable. Everything was still soaked and also freezing cold. I couldn’t feel any extremity for 30 minutes of walking. I didn’t use my trekking poles that day and managed to not fall, another success.

Thoughts on the trip?

I am alive. I made it. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I loved it and I hated it at the same time.

Well done Ally! A great trip report on the Overland Track. We hope it has not left you too damaged and your are ready for another adventure!

Some of you will know we have an eBook designed for first time hikers planning the Overland Track in Tasmania. Hiking the Overland Track was last updated in 2014 and it is a great guide on planning your trip.

Have you hiked the Overland Track? We are off there in June and cannot wait!

Comments

My husband and I did the Overland in April 2014. We were complete novices to multi day hiking and at 57 and 60 years we were by far the oldest in the “group”. His pack weighed 26kg and mine was 16. Far too heavy but we couldn’t think of anything to ditch! We had far too much food as neither of us was at all hungry and only ate small meals the whole time. We made it up to Marion’s Lookout and I thought that we’d be ok after that as it is the steepest part. But day 2 was so hard for us as our legs were aching and we literally staggered into Windermere! We slept in our tent as the huts were crowded and someone snored. That night it poured and an Israeli couple camping next to us got all there stuff wet. We were fine. I was really anxious about day 3 as it is the longest and after finding the “easy” day 2 so hard I worried I wouldn’t make it. But it turned out to be quite ok, just long! The rest was great. Met great people and they too, looked out for us. They even told us they thought we were amazing, because they had found it hard too. I had moments where I thought that people who do this more than once were crazy, but now, a month on, I would like to do it again, having learnt what we did, knowing the walking gets easier and that we can make our packs considerably lighter. I had read your ebook and the food to go book and had followed suggestions from them, most of which were invaluable. The only thing I would change is the amount of food per person. But you don’t know if you’re a hungry hiker or not until you do it! So I am glad to see that Ally is a young girl who also found it hard. Makes me feel so proud of us! It really is an achievement to do this hike and we are now planning to go into the Walls of Jerusalem soon.

Thanks for such a great comment Alison! You guys did really well. I first walked it with a mate about 8 years ago, had a very hard time but loved it. I came home raving about it and Sue decided to do it with me (and our daughter Clare) We set off about 6 weeks later. I had a great time, she struggled!

Back home, she decided she wanted to do it again so a couple of months later we were off again!! We both had a great time and really enjoyed it. As time went on we reduced our gear and pack weight, Sue did it solo and so forth! It is our favourite part of the world.

Thanks for the positive feedback on the books. We are glad they have been helpful, that’s the idea!

Hi Alison, I was wondering how was the weather in April. I’m planning to do the walk April 2015 with my 15 year old son (I will be 50 by then, eek) and I know the Tassie weather, I have completed the walk a coupl e of times many many years ago, in the warmer months. I know one has to be prepared to all seasons, but hopefully, April isn’t too ‘bad’ a time of year. The food is always an issue and I’m also guilty of too much on multi day walks, I think it is a ‘comfort’ thing,! Thanks for the interesting and informative post. Cheers